PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 279 



3. None of our lakes should be drained and even the few remaining 

 swamps should be considered from other viewpoints than that which 

 takes into account only the possibility of drainage. Iowa Conservation. 

 Vol. 1, No. 3, p 52. 



FOREST AND GAME PRESERVES IN IOWA. 

 By C. F. Curtiss, B. Sc., D. S, 



We have in Iowa no extensive native forest, yet we are much inter- 

 rested in preserving what forests we have and in promoting further for- 

 est planting. One of the best means of increasing the attractiveness of 

 the farm home is by preserving and increasing tree growth. The Lin- 

 coln and Jefferson highways traversing the state will carry many trans- 

 continental tourists. It will be greatly to the advantage of Iowa to make 

 these highways attractive by tree planting. Then we should have sev- 

 eral large tracts set aside and preserved as state parks, and serving the 

 purpose of fish and game and forest reserves. We have in Iowa some 

 tracts admirably adapted to this purpose, already well wooded and wa- 

 tered. A large fund paid in the form of hunters' and fishers' licenses has 

 already accumulated. This fund now amounts to something like $150,- 

 000. It would seem logical and proper to use this fund for the promotion 

 of the fish and game and forestry interests of the state. The men who 

 ipay this fund into the treasury now get but little in return. With several 

 large parks set aside and stocked with fish and game and the trees pre- 

 served and supplemented by additional planting and properly guarded 

 by the state policy, we would develop places that would conserve fish 

 and game and forestry resources and make Iowa one of the most at- 

 tractive places on the transcontinental highways between the Atlantic 

 and the Pacific oceans. The tourist travel will be more largely over these 

 highways in the future and a system of state pairks and adornment of 

 the main lines of travel may be made an asset of great value to the state. 



It is time to do some constructive work along this line, and so fortu- 

 nately we have a means- of doing it without additional taxation or bur- 

 dens upon anyone. Iowa Forestry and Conservation Association. Report 

 1914-15, pp. 109-10. 



WOMEN WANT IOWA SCENERY PRESERVED. 

 By Mrs. May H. McNider. 



Conservation of scenery is a live topic in Iowa today and it is our 

 hope that the good work will go on not only until the proposed park on 

 the banks of the Mississippi at McGregor is a reality, and the preservation 

 of the other notable beauty spots of the state is assured but until there 

 is an adequate recreation park of natural beauty in every locality. Our 

 plans are directed to this end. 



